The Delta independent., 1887-04-19
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

the outlook, will be vigorously prose-
cuted, The pastors Of eighteen protes-
tant churches have discussed the sub
ject fraternally. and have agreed upon
means Of systematic union work in
every section Of the capital, which cer-
tain uoralists hare essayed to estab-
l,sh as the most ungodly in the world.
And Washington is being made bet
ter Ia other ways. An old lay on The
District of Columbia otatute books
makes it uniawful for any person to
keep open any place Of business for
the sale of any article of profit on SUM-
day, excepting apothecaries, under
takers and BARRIERS. The commission
ers have resurrected this law from its
dusty tomb, and propose to enforce it.
IN other word., there will be no cigar
stores open next Sunday, and news
stands, ice cream saloons, lunch rooms
etc. Will also lie closed. 1t is difficult
to see the drift of this action. Some
people think that. since the day of blue
law is ofy, the prohibitionists have
gone little too far for their own good,
that there will be general howl of in
dignat on, a test case in which the dis
trict v Il probably be defeated and then
the baSrier will be down,
60 not know that Washington
needs any more evangelizing labor ex-
pended upon it than any other metro
polls in the country. despite the uni
versal opinion outside that it is per-
feet cesEpool of iniquity. The capital
is not vicious city; it is not an i'm
moral city: it is really not in as bad Il
way by half AZ the agitators would
make 1t out to be. There are no gamb.
ling houses here. At one time faro and
all other games of chance which ruin
Cd this life and business advancement
of many man were in full blast, but
they were completely wiped out some
years ago. During the past winter
some adventurers opened gambling
house here for business, but within
two days their establishment was va
Gated. There are no professional poker
rooms in existence here. do not mean
that poker is not played. for it is, to a
considerable extent during the SO called
social season, but it is not licensed.
1t has been SAID in other cities that
there was no artistic or musical atmos-
phere in Washington; that politics and
society absorbed every faculty and in
terest. Washington does lunch and
dine and visit great deal, and politics
do hang as sort of Old Man of the
Sea about its neck, but it i. more than
the political and social capital of the
greatest republic the world has ever
seen. Every national interest cen.ers
here, and every phase of national life
is represented here. AS is also the intel
iect, and. culture and patriotism OF 4
continent. The great social whirl be-
gins OH New Years day and subsidies
with the advent Of lent. During that
season, with the fashionable people and
official entertainers. calls and visiting
cards fill up the mornings, calls. recep.
lions and visiting cards crowd tho
afternoons, calls, receptions and visit
ing cards jam the evenings and sIgI,ts
until next morning every day.
If every day were week long, and
every week month long. there would
still net be time enough for all the
calls. receptions, visiting cards, break
fasts. luncheons, dinners and teas,
which constitute the occupation Of a
certain element of society here. bu,
amid this social maelstrom one meets
more famous men and women, states.
men. orators. soldiers and scholars,
more people worth knowing and re-
nemberIne. than in an other city of
America. or than in all its cities com
bined. And taken all In all, for its
size. its cosmopolitan population, it
may be said that Washington is n good
city in point Of morals. Still, it has
been 80 much and 80 long misrepre-
sented, that IL will he very difficult TO
remove such widely spread, erroneous
impression.
Among its latest charities is the es.
tabiishment of "home" the object Of
wichh is TO protect and provide for
young women who come here expect
ing to get work and fail to do 30. A
number of prominent ladies' and gen.
tlemen have organized themselves into
an association for the establishment OF
this home" which will be the means
OF preventing untold suffering and de-
graduation. Women come here seeking
employment from every quarter of the
United States. Or course many Of
them are disappointed. scarcely a day
passes that the police are not called on
to provide for such unfortun ates,
while about the only thing tina. they
can do is to furnish Il meal or two and
= nights lodging in the cell Of n sta
tion house.
When sealskin sucque costs $500.
and a diamond solitaire ring half as